The Gilas 3X3 squad, from left, Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, CJ Perez and Mo Tautuaa. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Alvin Pasaol made sure to stay ready despite missing Gilas Pilipinas 3×3’s seven-day training camp in Calamba, Laguna for the 2021 Fiba 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Pasaol, who wasn’t allowed to enter the bubble due to health and safety protocols, said he did extra work and won’t have to do a lot of catching up when he finally rejoins his teammates at the resumption of training on Saturday.
“During that time, I did extra workout plus I also did Zoom workout with coach Benj (Palarca). While they were in the bubble, I did what I had to do so that I’ll be ready once I enter the bubble,” said Pasaol, the No. 2 ranked 3×3 player in the country, in Filipino.
“I’m confident that I’ll be able to give my all in our remaining practices in the bubble and in the OQT.”
Gilas 3×3, which also features top-ranked Joshua Munzon, No. 6 Karl Dehesa and No.8 Santi Santillan as well as Southeast Asian Games gold medalists CJ Perez and Moala Tautuaa, faces a tall order in the OQT as it battles Slovenia and Qatar on May 26 before taking on France and the Dominican Republic two days later.
The 26-year-old Pasaol, however, remains unfazed.
“With the pool that SBP was able to form, they made sure to fill what we lack. We can really hang with the rest of the competition, we just need to believe that we can win.”